Top 10 broker gaffes
August 16, 2018 by Jason ContantMajor infractions committed by Quebec insurance brokers include acting dishonestly, negligently, or not acting with competence and professional integrity, says the disciplinary committee of the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages (ChAD), the province’s self-regulatory body for brokers, agents and claims adjusters.…
Hub introduces new cannabis insurance and risk services for Canada
August 15, 2018 by Jason ContantGlobal insurance brokerage Hub International announced Wednesday that it has launched cannabis insurance and risk services for the Canadian market. The offering, under Hub’s agribusiness and farm specialty practice, is also available in the United States. It provides medical and…
Rebuild contractor wins lawsuit vs. homeowner’s breach of contract
August 14, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAfter her home burnt down, a homeowner tried to get the proposed rebuild to fit the quotation of an insurer, contributing to a breakdown in the relationship between the homeowner and the contractor. The dispute led to a lawsuit to…
How to sell cyber to small business owners
August 12, 2018 by David GambrillThere is a very large untapped market for selling cyber insurance to small businesses. How can brokers best approach small business owners to offer them cyber coverage? A recent 2018 study of Canadian “smaller businesses” by Scalar Security* found that…
Frustration after emergency alerts not received before deadly Manitoba tornado
August 7, 2018 The Canadian PressALONSA, Man. – Residents are frustrated they didn’t receive emergency alerts on their cell phones before a strong tornado tore through a small Manitoba community on Friday. The EF4 tornado moved through the Rural Municipality of Alonsa on Friday night…
Court balks at auto injury medical expert witness fee
August 3, 2018 by Greg MeckbachWhen a motorist gets sued by an accident victim, should the defendant be ordered to pay $5,000 to reimburse the plaintiff for half a day’s court testimony from a plaintiff’s doctor? A British Columbia court official says no. Gary Senner…
Ontario’s plans for auto insurance reform still under wraps
August 2, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA month after being sworn into office, Ontario’s new political rulers have been silent on the issue of auto insurance reform. “We haven’t heard anything formal yet from government,” confirmed Pete Karageorgos, the director of consumer and industry relations for…
The danger of lying about gender for cheaper auto insurance
August 1, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf a young male motorist is thinking of telling his insurer he is female for the sole purpose of getting a lower rate, there is some simple advice a broker can give: Don’t do it. This is because a motorist’s…
Wawanesa to discontinue direct channel, sell exclusively through brokers in Quebec
August 1, 2018 by Jason ContantWawanesa Mutual Insurance Company announced Wednesday that that it will sell its insurance products exclusively through independent Quebec insurance brokers, discontinuing direct sales to customers in the province. With this move, Wawanesa will be selling solely through brokers in all…
Questions to ask clients who serve alcohol
July 30, 2018 by Jason ContantRisk managers in the restaurant and bar business need to “mine” for information from potential insureds to make sure they exercise their duty of care in serving alcohol responsibly. “From a risk management standpoint, what’s key is the insured is…
Big Data is bringing credit score issue to the fore
July 29, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAs insurers’ computer databases get exponentially larger, the controversy around the use of credit scores in rating property coverage is getting intense. Customers are asking for “transparency” from insurers on how they price and underwrite insurance, Jean-François Larochelle, director of…
Why a public insurer may have to cover the liability of a suspended car owner
July 29, 2018 by David GambrillIn a priority dispute between insurers, Manitoba’s public auto insurer may be on the hook for the liability of the owner of a vehicle involved in a crash in Ontario, even though MPI had cancelled the car owner’s insurance certificate…